How to Boil Rice

Ingredients

• 1 mug of rice (long-grain or basmati)
• 2 mugs of water
• Pinch of salt

Tools

Steps

1. 1

   Rinse the rice

   Tip rice into a sieve. Run cold water through until it runs clear. This stops it being gluey.

2. 2

   Into the pan

   Put rice + 2 mugs of water + a pinch of salt into the saucepan. Lid on. Hob on high.

3. 3

   Bring it to the boil

   Wait until you see bubbles. Then turn the heat DOWN to low. Keep the lid on.

4. 4

   Don't lift the lid (10–12 min)

   Set a timer. Do not lift the lid to peek — the steam is doing the work.

5. 5

   Rest, then fluff

   Turn the heat off. Leave it 2 minutes. Lift lid. Fluff with a fork. Done.

What Could Go Wrong

• Keep your eyes on it. If you walk away with the heat too high, the water boils off, the rice burns, the pan dies.
• Stuck-on burnt rice is a 40-minute washing-up problem. Don't do that to yourself.
• Lid stays ON. Steam is doing the cooking.